The Odessa Barb, sometimes known as the Scarlet Barb, is a beautiful and lively schooling fish. The females are silver and pink with a black spot above their pectoral fin and the males are black to silver with a stunning red stripe running from head to tail. They do prefer a well-planted tank of at least 100L with soft, slightly acidic water. Rocks and driftwood can be added to the aquarium, but leave plenty of space for swimming. The Scarlet Barb is a very active fish that may pester or even nip the fins of larger, slower moving fish. It is best, when trying to breed the Odessa Barb, to house a number of Barbs in the same aquarium until they pair off. After a pair has developed, the female will lay her eggs and the male will follow behind to fertilise. The fry will be free-swimming after about 5 days. Feed the fry newly hatched brine shrimp until large enough to accept crushed flake food. The Odessa Barb needs to be fed a variety of foods including vegetables as well as meaty foods. Feed a quality flake food as well as freeze dried, live, and frozen foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.
